The effectiveness of greenhouse gases in terms of their global warming potential (GWP) can be compared using a standardized metric often referenced over a specific timeframe, usually 100 years.
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Carbon Dioxide (CO2): It is the baseline gas against which others are compared, with a GWP of 1.
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Methane (CH4): Methane is significantly more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2. Over a 100-year period, methane has a GWP of approximately 28-36 times that of CO2, depending on the source. Over a shorter period (like 20 years), its GWP can be even higher, around 84-87 times.
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Nitrous Oxide (N2O): This gas also has a much higher GWP than CO2, with a GWP of about 298 times that of CO2 over a 100-year period. Its contribution to warming largely comes from agricultural practices and various industrial processes.
In summary, both methane and nitrous oxide are much more potent greenhouse gases when compared to carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to global warming, especially in the short term for methane.
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